Off Topic – But Important

I have some posts on my mind, here. But I’ve been a bit preoccupied with a blog blitz on my other blog to raise awareness of unethical adoption practices as played out in a specific case (Stephanie Bennett). I urge folks, whether adoption interests you or not, to take a moment to find out what is happening in that Ohio case. It’s certainly not something the Bennett family went looking for. If this story moves you in any way, please take another moment to sign the petition. They are nearly half way to their goal of 1000. Send others that way, too, to sign and help them reach their goal. Let’s help reunite a family that should never have been torn apart and bring Evelyn Bennett home. Thanks.

Not Gonna Do It!

I’ve been dreading turning 40 for nearly four years now, since I turned 35. Do you know why? It’s not a fear of getting old, so much. After all, what’s the alternative of growing older? No, it’s a little medical procedure that’s been preached at me for years, having my first mammogram. Yup. And my dread was growing as 39 looms ever closer this year, which would put me one year away from having to do it. Well, I’ve just decided I’m not gonna do it. Absolutely not.

For years I’ve kept my ears perked just in case a story broke telling of an alternative. But I haven’t heard any such thing, until last week while listening to Natural Solutions Radio when the show host mentioned thermograms. The thing is, this is nothing new. It seems the basic concept has been around for a long time. Leaves me wondering why I haven’t heard of it. It is a noninvasive procedure that apparently gives better results than mammograms. I’m definitely going to find out more about this, and how I can opt for a thermogram over a mammogram.

There are several articles regarding mammograms on the Natural Solutions Radio website that give plenty of reasons to avoid having a mammogram, aside from my own anxiety over the pain and discomfort of it. Check out Mammograms Offer No Health Benefits.

Since then, other doctors have begun to assert that in addition to failing to offer protection, mammograms — which involve exposing patients to radiation —may actually increase women’s risk of cancer. 

“The latest evidence shifts the balance towards harm and away from benefits,” said Dr. Michael Baum of University College in London. 

According to Canadian columnist Dr. W. Gifford -Jones, women between the ages of 40 and 49 who have regular mammograms are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as women who are not screened.

If you click the women’s health category, you’ll find several more articles specifically regarding mammograms or mammography. And here is another article on Thermography that has more information regarding breast screening and answers my earlier question of why I hadn’t heard of it. If you’re female, this is certainly something to investigate and seriously consider. I know I am.

Formulating a Plan

Well, it’s time I quit talking about getting serious and actually get down to business. I’ve been conjuring up an idea of a plan in my head this week. Yesterday I downloaded a weekly meal planner template and hope this evening to get a list going of my favorite recipes. I’m starting with the evening meals, then will work on breakfast and lunch. I also have loads of laundry to work through, so we’ll see how far I get – a little at a time, I suppose.

Along with the pms, I have other nagging health issues, and I’m really getting tired of always feeling sick in some form or another. This week it’s nausea and indigestion getting me down, something that comes on every now and then (no, I’m NOT pregnant!). I’m starting to think that may be something like gall bladder or acid reflux. That’s potentially a whole lot more serious than pms or psoriasis, so I’d better start paying attention to what my body is telling me. You know, 39 is just a couple of months away. Ugh!

In light of all that, these posts on Through the Cooking Glass are very timely: Planning, part 1 and part 2. I certainly needed a little inspiration, not to mention some practical help. Eating well takes work, you know. But it is so worth the effort. I know a few years ago when I was doing a better job of following The Maker’s Diet, I felt much better than I have been lately. My husband and I got a late start as parents and I want to be able to be there for my kid(s), to be able to do for them and have fun with them.

I have a long ways to go before I can completely follow the “Nourishing Traditions” way of eating. I’m so not there with things like juicing and grinding my own grain. But, I’m going to start where I am and do what I can do. So, here I go. I’ll post my results as I go. Maybe it’ll help someone else get started. Hey, I’d love to hear from you if you’re embarking on a similar endeavor.

More on PMS

So, on Peace06′s recommendation/reminder on the last post, I checked out westonaprice.org to see what info they had on the subject: Natural PMS Relief. They offer some nutritional guidelines for relieving those bothersome symptoms. It seems I’ll have to give up coffee AND tea, wine, and chocolate! Actually, this isn’t news to me, but I kind of liked feigning ignorance. But I have been under the impression that some wine, in moderation, was actually good for you. And, what about green tea??!! I just read an article about the cancer fighting properties of green tea that I was thinking of posting about. Maybe they just mean black tea.

They also list some vitamins/minerals that may need to be supplemented, as well as foods rich in those nutrients. That’s helpful. Additional information includes herbal helps, homeopathic treatments, and other considerations. It seems if I’m going to get serious about this I’ll need to give my diet an overhaul, and have another look at whole food supplements. Again, I’ll be perusing those aisles at the health food store. But these articles help me to know what I’m looking for. I hope it has been helpful for others, too.

Understanding PMS

I get a Women to Women newsletter in my email every so often featuring articles on various aspects of women’s health. A month or so back they featured PMS and PMDD. I hadn’t had much time to really read it until recently. It has lots of great information regarding what’s going on with your body, symptoms, diagnoses and treatment, diet and exercise, stress, etc: Understanding PMS and PMDD.

Most women feel slightly fatigued, tense, or emotionally low the week before menstruation— with the emphasis on slightly. It’s when premenstrual symptoms begin to worsen or disrupt your personal life, work or self-confidence that it could be time to take a closer look at what’s really going on. Patients often tell me that they feel out of control right before their periods — as though they are on an emotional and physical rollercoaster with devastating dips into fatigue, pain, anger, and depression. Some women are completely disabled each cycle by PMS, while others with more moderate symptoms hold out as best they can, knowing the ride will be over in a few days. 

I think most months I fall in the “moderate” category, holding out as best I can for about a week. My worst time, usually, is the first day or two of bleeding, which comes with moderate cramps. I’m not sure if the cramps have lessened with age, or if I have just learned to manage them better. I think it’s probably the latter, as occasionally they come on in the middle of the night and are quite severe. During the day I start the Aleve as soon as I feel them coming on. But at night, I guess I’ve passed that point by the time they wake me up.

But it seems the premenstrual symptoms may be worsening, with fatigue, headaches, and all that jazz, every month right about a week before my period starts. That is starting to effect my ability to keep up with my very active little boy and my household duties. In light of all that, I’m beginning to seriously consider the natural treatments the authors of this article recommend. I don’t know yet if I’ll sign up for their program or search out the local health food stores for PMS remedies. But I am definitely thinking something beyond popping Aleve and curling up with the heating pad needs doing.

At any rate, I’m certainly not the only female around with menstrual woes. So I thought I’d share the information here. I’d love to hear about any other articles or books that have been helpful for anyone else.